Enugu State has taken a decisive step toward hosting the 23rd National Sports Festival, as Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah on Wednesday inaugurated a high-profile Local Organizing Committee (LOC) in the state capital.
The festival, officially known as Coal City Games Enugu 2026, is expected to draw thousands of athletes from across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT.
In what many are calling the most ambitious pre-festival launch in recent years, Enugu has signalled its intent to host a competition that sets new standards in sports excellence, infrastructure, and national unity.
Governor Mbah used the occasion to unveil a far-reaching development agenda aimed at transforming the sports landscape in the state. His administration plans to construct a new Games Village to house athletes and officials, remodel existing stadiums into international-standard venues, and develop new multi-sport facilities across Enugu.
“We are not just hosting a festival—we are building a legacy, this is about unlocking our sports economy, creating jobs, and projecting Enugu as a hub for sports tourism” Governor Mbah declared.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE ATHLETIC NG WHATSAPP CHANNEL
The state also intends to prioritise local content during the build-up and hosting of the festival. This includes contracting local vendors, artisans, and creatives in an effort to stimulate economic activity and highlight the region’s cultural heritage.
Team Enugu at the opening ceremony of the Gateway Games 2024. Photo Credit: X
Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, who was present at the inauguration, praised the state’s proactive approach and reaffirmed federal support for the festival.
“With the inauguration of this high-powered Local Organizing Committee, we are confident that the Coal City Games Enugu 2026 will raise the bar in excellence, inclusion, and legacy,” Olopade stated.
READ MORE: Private sector backs Enugu 2026 National Sports Festival with major sponsorship deals
The LOC will be led by Enugu’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ike Ekweremadu Jr., and includes some of the most respected figures in Nigerian sports, including Olympian Mary Onyali, NPFL COO Davidson Owumi, and sports lawyer Aku Akazu.
Other members include:
Bamiduro Olumide – Secretary General; former badminton champion
Blessing Chisalam Ekwe – COO, Badminton Federation of Nigeria
Tony Ugwu – Chairman, Enugu State FA
Victor Okorie – Member, Athletics Federation of Nigeria
Ephraim Ochonma – Director of Coaching, Enugu State Ministry of Youth and Sports
Henry Chinedu Okorie – Executive, Nigeria Olympic Committee
Jonathan Nnaji – President, Nigeria Modern Pentathlon Federation
Boniface Onovo – Director of Organizing, Enugu State Ministry of Youth and Sports
Obiora Obasi – Technical Assistant to the Honourable Commissioner
The 2026 edition will mark Enugu’s debut as host of the National Sports Festival — and the first time in nearly three decades that the South East has welcomed the event.
